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| Big White At The Gate |
On Wednesday, July 9, my husband and
I arrived at the Vancouver Island Music Festival in Courtenay, British
Columbia. We parked Big White, our small motor home, in the volunteer
campground and strolled over to one of the tents to receive our identification
pass and wristband.
We had volunteered for the 1200 hour
to 0600 time slot with the Camping Grounds Security crew. I had convinced Frank
that the midnight shift was best for me because of my intolerance for the hot
sun. We attended a short training session where we learnt our first duty:
Observe and Report.
On our first night at Gate 4, located on
the north end of the large festival property, we learnt to wear several layers
of clothing in order to make it through the peak hours of the morning. There
was no campfire to warm us and the frost soaked through our limited cover of
clothing searching for skin. The only activity that evening was a person staggering from the gate to his trailer. He whistled and hummed the
whole way.
Thursday in those early morning hours was calm at
our Gate 1 assignment. One person chose to stagger out
of the campground into the pitch black. We suggested that he be
careful but never saw him return through the gate on our watch. Throughout the
break of dawn, we were serenaded by a group of talented musicians and singers. With
tired eyes, the band dispersed and made their way to bed.
On Friday, we tended two entrance
ways. We guarded Gate 2 first which give us an opportunity to scan the hologram
markings on the MusicFest attendee’s wristband. Some of the folks wrapped the identifier
around their ankles which meant they had to lift their leg for Frank to get at
the marker. Later that morning, we shared whispered conversations with official
security guards at Gate 1.
We slept well during the late part of
the morning in Big White and spent many hours that afternoon, evening and for
the rest of the time, enjoying the music, people-watching and taking in the
various scents wafting our way. We were protected from the sun's scorching rays by
the shade tents scattered throughout the property. We learnt that we didn’t
have to be in the front row to hear the great sounds emanating from the
oversized speakers.
We learnt that we want to volunteer
for the MusicFest again next year.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
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| First Night On Security |
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| MusicFest Volunteer Campsite |
